Eligibility for Financial Aid

Remember, to receive financial aid you need to be admitted to an eligible degree or certificate program at the college. All associate degree programs are eligible and some certificate programs are eligible for financial aid. Visit the list of Financial Aid Eligible Certificate Programs‌.

If you have not applied for admissions, complete the application as soon as possible. Don’t wait to be admitted before completing your FAFSA. It is best to apply for admission and financial aid at about the same time.

Conditional Admission

Conditional admission means that you have been admitted to a program, but additional information is needed by the Admissions Office (usually an updated high school transcript). You may still receive a financial aid award offer; however, financial aid cannot clear your bill and you will not be eligible for a book advance or financial aid payment until the “conditional admit” status is resolved.

Minimum Requirements

A student must meet the following criteria to be eligible for financial aid:

Complete the FAFSA

Have a valid Social Security Number

Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen

Register with Selective Service (males ages 18-25)

Resolve any drug conviction issues

Have a high school diploma, High School Equivalency Certificate (HiSET), or home-schooled documentation

Be accepted into an eligible degree or certificate program

Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Not owe a refund on any federal/state educational grant, nor be in default on any previous education loans

Submit all required documentation to the Financial Aid Office

Full-Time or Part-Time Enrollment

One of the biggest myths of financial aid is that only full-time students are eligible. Not true! Many part-time students qualify for financial aid as well. Some even qualify when they're only enrolled in one course. However, some financial aid programs do require a certain enrollment level. For example, you need to be enrolled in at least six credits to receive a student loan, while some students can receive the Pell Grant when enrolled in only three credits. The golden rule of financial aid is "You must apply." It's free and the Financial Aid Office will be glad to help you through the process. Once you submit all information, Financial Aid will do all it can to identify resources to help you meet your costs. An audited class is not considered when determining enrollment level for financial aid purposes.

The Money is Good, Day or Evening

Your financial aid award will be used to pay towards your credit enrollment at the College, whether day, evening, weekend, online, and any Bristol location.

Repeat Coursework

Repeated coursework that falls under certain conditions cannot be included in a student's enrollment status when determining eligibility for federal financial aid, including Pell Grants and student loans. Repeated enrollment that is not eligible will be excluded from your financial aid enrollment status for that term. Federal aid will be recalculated based on the adjusted enrollment status. The recalculation applies regardless of whether you received aid for previous course enrollments. This policy is described in full in the Academic Catalog.

Summer Enrollment

Pell Grant eligibility for enrollment during Summer semester will be based on the prior academic year's financial aid file. The award amount is based on your EFC and enrollment level. One of the factors considered when determining Pell eligibility for the summer is your enrollment in the prior academic year. If you enrolled part-time or not at all for either the Fall or Spring semester, you might be eligible for a Summer Pell Grant since you probably did not use your entire Pell entitlement. In some cases, you can enroll in as few as three credits and be eligible. Summer is considered a Pell Grant trailer semester.

Enrolling in Two Institutions

If you enroll in more than one school during the same semester, you will need to take extra steps for financial aid consideration. Federal and state regulations do not allow you to receive financial aid from two schools at the same time. Contact the Financial Aid Office of the home school for a consortium agreement. When the consortium agreement is approved by both schools, the home school may consider your enrollment at the second school and may include financial assistance for that enrollment. You will be billed by both schools. The financial aid offered at the home school will pay charges at the home school only. You will need to make your own payment arrangements for the tuition and fee charges at the second school.

If you enroll at more than one school during the same academic year, you can receive no more than 100% of your Federal Pell and Federal Direct Loan eligibility for that year. For example, if you enrolled at another school and received 90% of your Pell at that school and then transfer to Bristol, you can receive only 10% at Bristol regardless of your enrollment level. If this applies to you, it's important that you notify the Bristol Financial Aid Office prior to your enrollment so we can determine your actual remaining eligibility. At Bristol, our academic year runs fall, spring, summer (with summer as the trailer semester).

Study Abroad

Enrollment in a program of study abroad that has been approved for credit by Bristol Office of Academic Affairs can be considered enrollment at Bristol for the purposes of financial aid.

Financial Aid Enrollment Level

Your financial aid eligibility is based on your enrollment level on a specific date at the start of each semester. Your eligibility will be based on your registered credits at the end of the drop period, which typically ends on the 14th calendar day of the traditional full semester. You should plan to register for all classes, specifically later-starting classes, by this freeze date. If you register for a class after the freeze date, that enrollment will not be included in your financial aid award, which means that you will be responsible for paying those charges on your own. The freeze date is posted in the Event Calendar and in the Student Handbook.

Deleted Classes and Total Withdrawals

A deleted class at any time will reduce your financial aid enrollment level and reduce your financial aid award, even if the aid has already been paid out. Deleting all classes or a total withdrawal during the 100% tuition refund period will result in the cancellation of tuition and fees (except $37) and all financial aid. You will be responsible for your book advance charges.

Total withdrawals up to the 60% point of the semester (payment period) will also reduce your financial aid award.

Enrollment in Modules

For financial aid purposes, you are considered to be enrolled in modules if any of your registered classes do not span the entire length of the traditional semester.

Withdrawing or Dropping Out Means Paying Back Financial Aid

As if there weren't enough reasons to stay in school, financial aid recipients have one more. Recipients who stop attending their classes up to the 60% point in the semester are required to pay back a portion of the financial aid funds. Additionally, recipients enrolled in modules (see section above regarding modules) who do not successfully complete each module may be required to pay back a portion of the financial aid funds. This recalculation of financial aid eligibility is done no later than 45 days after notification that the student is no longer attending.

If a financial aid recipient withdraws completely from Bristol, the financial aid will be prorated based on the percentage of the semester the student attends/completes. The dates used in this proration are gathered in the following order: the last date of attendance, if reported by instructor; the individual course withdrawal date at the time the student withdraws; finally, with no last date or attendance and no withdrawal date, a failed course is considered at 50%.

For example, a student whose last date of attendance is up to the 30% point of the semester is eligible for only 30% of the financial aid award.

Financial aid award funds used to pay off charges may be reduced or canceled, leaving the student with unpaid charges.

A student who has received a financial aid refund and then totally withdraws from Bristol may be required to return all or part of that refund.

Also, a financial aid recipient who receives any combination of W and F grades for the semester may be required to return all or part of the financial aid funds received.

For example, a student who receives a W and F grade will need to return some financial aid funds if the documented last date of attendance is before the 60% point.

A student who receives a W grade and a C grade will not need to return financial aid funds. Note that enrollment in modules requires a passing grade in each module.

Passing grades are A, B, C, D, S

A financial aid recipient who enrolls in modules for the semester and then does not complete at least one class in each enrolled module may be required to return some financial aid funds received.

For example, a student enrolls in three credits in a seven-week session and also enrolls in six credits in the traditional full semester session.

The student receives a passing grade in the seven-week session but then withdraws from the traditional semester classes.

The student did not successfully complete all modules so financial aid eligibility will be recalculated based on the percentage of the semester the student was in attendance.

Class Withdrawal Affects Eligibility (Student Completion Rate)

Withdrawals, failures or incomplete classes may jeopardize your eligibility. It's wise to assess the demands in your life (family, work, etc.) and enroll in only as many courses as you're sure you can successfully complete. Finish what you start and you can be sure that your financial aid will remain available for you. Federal guidelines require that a quantitative component be included in the college's Satisfactory Academic Progress policy. That means that a student receiving financial aid must successfully complete attempted courses. The college's Student Completion Rate policy requires that you complete your program within a 150% time frame. If you fall below the College's Student Completion Rate, you may lose your eligibility for financial assistance. Refer to the paragraph below on Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Grades Affect Your Eligibility (Grade Point Average)

Federal guidelines require that the College have a qualitative standard (grades) included in the Satisfactory Academic Policy. Your GPA will be reviewed every semester to determine if you are maintaining these standards.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

All matriculated students are expected to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress which includes two components:

Student Completion Rate (SCR)

Grade Point Average (GPA)

This policy is described in full in the Academic Catalog and in the Student Handbook.

Aid Suspension Due to Drug Conviction

The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, suspends aid eligibility for students who have been convicted under federal or state law of the sale or possession of drugs, if the offense occurred during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving federal student aid. If you have convictions for these offenses, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1.800.433.3243 or go to the FAFSA on the Web site, click on "Before Beginning a FAFSA" in the left column, then click on Student Aid Eligibility Worksheet to find out how this law applies to you. If you have lost federal student aid eligibility due to a drug conviction, you can regain eligibility if you pass two unannounced drug tests conducted by a drug rehabilitation program that complies with the criteria established by the U.S. Department of Education.

Did you know there’s a university nearby that offers you the opportunity to complete your bachelor’s degree by mixing night and online classes? Bridgewater State University College of Continuing Studies provides flexible scheduling options and an easy transfer process. You can attend part-time or full-time. It’s up to you.
We’re happy to speak with you about how we can help you start on the road to completing your degree. Learn more by visiting our website www.bridgew.edu/ccs or speak with a representative during BSU visiting hours at Bristol.
Continuing Studies night degree programs: Accounting & Finance, Art, Communication Studies, Criminal Justice, Economics, English, Management, Psychology, Sociology and Special Education.
Robin Ryan, a BSU representative will be visiting the Fall River Campus, ’ C’ Building Lobby from 3:30 pm-7 pm on the following dates:
Tuesday, September 25
Thursday, October 25 CANCELLED
Wednesday, November 14
Monday, November 19
Tuesday, December 11

New This Semester!
UMASS Dartmouth will have a presence on the Fall River Campus in the evening!
Matthew Cziska, the Enrollment Specialist for the Online and Continuing Education Department at UMASS Dartmouth will be visiting Bristol Community College on Thursday, October 11, 2018 from 3:30 pm to 7 pm. Located in the C Building Lobby (Siegal Health Technologies Building), Matthew will provide information on UMD's Academic Programs, Student Resources, Technical Resources, Transfer Credits, Scholarships and Financial Aid.
Students do not need an appointment. Please stop by and speak with Matthew if you are interested in attending UMD!
Other Dates UMD will be on campus in the evening:
November 15 and December 13.

A representative from University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, will be available to fill out applications, answer your questions about the transfer admission process, credit evaluations, deadlines, and special program requirements at UMASS Dartmouth. Find out how to make the transfer process to UMASS Dartmouth a seamless one.